Faucet sprayhead with mode and volume controls

• US 7,494,074 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASSA Abloy Americas Residential Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Benstead, Evan
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorman; Darren W
• Application Number:
  US11/414,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20070252022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 239/449, 239/11, 239/396, 239/428.5, 239/447, 239/390, 239/436, 239442-446, 239/448, 239/525, 239/527, 239/581.2, 239/582.1, 137/625.5, 137/625.48, 137/801, 467/8
• US Class Current: 239/449
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1618 where said valve is a double-seat lift valve
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/3026 the controlling element being a gate valve, a sliding valve or a cock B05B1/3006, B05B1/326 take precedence; gate valves or sliding valves in general F16K3/00; cocks in general F16K5/00
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/084 Jet regulators with aerating means
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2201/30 Diverter valves in faucets or taps

Abstract

A sprayhead especially suited for coupling to an extension hose for use in a pull-out kitchen faucet, the sprayhead including a selector subassembly for choosing between both spray and aerate modes, and a volume control built in to the sprayhead. The selector subassembly is engaged to a detent finger-button mounted on the housing that selectively diverts water flowing through an aerated flow path to an alternate spray flow path, thereby allowing manual selection between spray mode and aerate mode. The volume control is a slide switch on the housing and coupled to a rotary valve assembly for allowing the user to adjust the flow volume when in spray mode without affecting water volume in the aerate mode. When in aerate mode water is expelled from the sprayhead through an aerator output, and when in spray mode water is expelled through a series of nozzles oriented radially around the aerator output.

Claims

1. A sprayhead for connection to a faucet for expelling water, comprising:

a sprayhead housing

a first control comprising a detent finger-button in the sprayhead housing for allowing a user to manually select between a spray mode for expelling a spray of water, and an aerate mode for expelling an aerated stream of water; and

second control in the sprayhead housing for allowing said user to adjust a flow volume of water expelled from said sprayhead.

4. The sprayhead for expelling water according to claim 1, wherein said detent finger-button remains in a normally unbiased first position for said aerate mode, and is depressed to a second biased position for selection of spray mode.

2. A sprayhead for connection to a faucet for expelling water, comprising:

a sprayhead housing

a first control in the sprayhead housing for allowing a user to manually select between a spray mode for expelling a spray of water, and an aerate mode for expelling an aerated stream of water; and

a second control in the sprayhead housing comprising a slide switch for allowing said user to adjust a flow volume of water expelled from said sprayhead.

3. The sprayhead for expelling water according to claim 2, wherein said second control adjusts the volume of water expelled from said spray head when in spray mode.

5. The sprayhead for expelling water according to claim 2, wherein said slide switch is adjusted within a range of positions and, when released, maintains a position.

6. The sprayhead for expelling water according to claim 2, wherein said second control comprises a ring gear.

7. The sprayhead for expelling water according to claim 6, wherein said ring gear comprises an annular collar with gear teeth, said slide switch being formed integral to said collar.

8. A sprayhead for connection to a faucet for expelling water, comprising:

a sprayhead housing

a first control in the sprayhead housing for allowing a user to manually select between a spray mode for expelling a spray of water, and an aerate mode for expelling an aerated stream of water;

a second control in the sprayhead housing for allowing said user to adjust a flow volume of water expelled from said sprayhead;

a plurality of conduits defining a water input path in fluid communication with a spray flow path and an aerated flow path; and

a diverter chamber interrupting said aerated flow path, said first control including a movable piston loaded into said diverter chamber for selectively interrupting the aerated flow path to divert water into the spray flow path.

9. A sprayhead for connection to a faucet for expelling water, comprising:

a sprayhead housing

a first control comprising a selector sub-assembly in the sprayhead housing for allowing a user to manually select between a spray mode for expelling a spray of water, and an aerate mode for expelling an aerated stream of water;

a second control in the sprayhead housing for allowing said user to adjust a flow volume of water expelled from said sprayhead; and

a plurality of conduits defining a water input path, a spray flow path in fluid communication between said input path and a spray outlet, an aerated flow path in fluid communication between said input path and an aerated outlet, and a diverter chamber interrupting said aerated flow path, said selector sub-assembly including a movable piston loaded into said diverter chamber for selectively interrupting the aerated flow path to divert water into the spray flow path.

10. The sprayhead for expelling water according to claim 9, wherein said movable piston is moved within said diverter chamber by a detent finger-button for selection between said spray mode and said aerate mode.

11. A sprayhead for connection to a faucet for expelling water from said faucet, comprising:

an outer sprayhead housing

a first control comprising a detent finger-button in the sprayhead housing for selecting one of a spray mode and an aerate mode; and

said aerate mode;

a second control in the sprayhead housing for adjusting a flow volume;

a conduit assembly having a first flow path for said spray mode and a second flow path for said aerate mode;

a mode selector sub-assembly enclosed within said housing in cooperation with said first control for selecting one of said first flow path and said second flow path;

a flow control assembly enclosed within said housing in cooperation with said second control for adjusting water flow volume in said second flow path.

14. The sprayhead for expelling water according to claim 11, wherein said detent finger-button remains in a normally unbiased first position for said aerate mode, and is depressed to a second biased position for selection of spray mode.

12. A sprayhead for connection to a faucet for expelling water from said faucet, comprising:

an outer sprayhead housing

a first control in the sprayhead housing for selecting one of a spray mode and an aerate mode;

a second control comprising a slide switch in the sprayhead housing for adjusting said flow volume of water;

a conduit assembly having a first flow path for said spray mode and a second flow path for said aerate mode;

a mode selector sub-assembly enclosed within said housing in cooperation with said first control for selecting one of said first flow path and said second flow path;

a flow control assembly enclosed within said housing in cooperation with said second control for adjusting water flow volume in said second flow path.

15. The sprayhead for expelling water according to claim 12, wherein said slide switch is adjusted within a range of positions and, when released, maintains a position.

13. A sprayhead for connection to a faucet for expelling water from said faucet, comprising:

an outer sprayhead housing

a first control in the sprayhead housing for selecting one of a spray mode and an aerate mode;

a second control in the sprayhead housing for adjusting the flow volume of water in spray mode, but having no affect on flow volume in aerate mode;

a conduit assembly having a first flow path for said spray mode and a second flow path for said aerate mode;

a mode selector sub-assembly enclosed within said housing in cooperation with said first control for selecting one of said first flow path and said second flow path;

a flow control assembly enclosed within said housing in cooperation with said second control for adjusting water flow volume in said second flow path.

16. A method of controlling a flow of water from a faucet through a sprayhead coupled to said faucet, comprising the steps of:

pressing a first control comprising a detent fingerbutton in the sprayhead and exteriorly accessible there from to select between a spray mode for expelling a spray of water, and an aerate mode for expelling an aerated stream of water; and

using a second control in the sprayhead and exteriorly accessible there from to adjust a flow volume of water.

17. A method of controlling a flow of water from a faucet through a sprayhead coupled to said faucet, comprising the steps of:

using a first control in the sprayhead and exteriorly accessible there from to select between a spray mode for expelling a spray of water, and an aerate mode for expelling an aerated stream of water; and

sliding a second control comprising a slide switch in the sprayhead and exteriorly accessible there from to adjust a flow volume of water.